Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery

What is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a procedure in which the gallbladder is removed by laparoscopic techniques (see above). Laparoscopic surgery also referred to as minimally invasive surgery is the use of a video camera and several thin instruments. Most patients go home the same day and are recovered in about a week. Although complications are uncommon there are some things we want are patients to be aware of after surgery such as the development of fever, yellow skin or eyes, worsening abdominal pain, distention, persistent nausea or vomiting, or drainage from the incision. If any of these symptoms occur you should contact your surgeon right away.

Most of these operations are performed with several small incisions, however, we can also perform the operation using a single incision technique (SILS) in which only one incision is created. The incision is placed at the umbilicus which once healed leaves virtually no visible scar. The decision to perform a single incision (SILS) approach will be made with the patient prior to the time of surgery.